TheBridge profile: Anna Soellner
Name: Anna Soellner
Current city: San Francisco, CA
Current job: Communications Director, Reddit
Past job: VP Communications, Motion Picture Association
Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Reddit
Q. Describe one skill you learned in a previous job that has helped you in your current job. Discipline is essential. You have to keep reading, details matter, keeping leadership apprised of what you are doing is your responsibility -- that all takes discipline.
Q. Job advice in three words? Never make assumptions
Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between politics and tech? It's interwoven between the two.
Q. What can Silicon Valley (innovators) teach DC (regulators)? How to govern again. That's not a lesson Silicon Valley can teach regulators, but Silicon Valley will be pushing the envelope in areas that are transformative to the way we live and work so will likely force their hands. I have to wonder if issues like driverless cars, AI, blockchain will finally force action in ways we haven’t seen for a while.
Q. What is your Morning Routine? I typically wake up early - around 6-615am. I make myself a steaming pot of tea and drink some bone broth and then start reading for about an hour. Papers, newsletters, twitter and, of course, Reddit. I know that many say that you aren't supposed to go online first thing in the morning but I lead comms so it's always the first thing I do. I tried to work out in the morning but given that many of the reporters who cover us are on the east coast, it's easier for me to do that in the evening. I always eat breakfast and I always spend a bit of time with my dog and cat.
Q. Last time you completely unplugged? Last time I completely unplugged was hiking and camping in Havusapai, Arizona. It's part of the western most section of the Grand Canyon and is governed by the native people from that region. There are incredible waterfalls and swimming holes. It was pure bliss.
Q. Which Member of Congress is the most tech savy? Members of Congress generally are not a very tech savvy bunch but I have been impressed with the thoughtfulness by Sens. Wyden and Schatz on the Senate side and Mike Doyle on the House side.
Q. Do you ever work from home? I don't work from home a lot. I manage a team and feel a responsibility to be present for them. I also believe deep in my soul that speaking to people in person is 1000% times for effective that virtually.
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